Typesetting machine



April 4, 1939. F. H. Pol-:PPELMEIER TYFESETTING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1938 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPE SETTING MACHINE Application April 5, 1938, Serial No. 200,165

18 Claims.

My invention relates to typesetting machines and has as its object an extremely simple mechanism free of the diflculties and refinements of past machines.

In typesetting machines of the past, the diniculty has been in providing for a rapid and safe operating device for transferring the type, after they have been collected in aline, to a chase or a device for storage pending transfer to a justifying device or a chase. Particularly in the class of machines wherein type is deposited under control of a typewriter, upon a moving belt, and then caused to come into line by converging guides, there has been necessary a very complicated arrangement or delivering the collected type, and for assuring the proper delivery of type thereto.

With a high speed operating discharge device, many of the diiculties of the past are done away with. This is because the spacing between blows of a typewriter even when rapidly operated, is a substantial time, and if the belt on which the type is delivered is moving very rapidly, there is little or no danger of a subsequently released piece of type coming into line ahead of a previously released piece of type. rIhus if a piece of type which can travel to the point of convergence of the guides without touching either guide, is started three inches behind the previous piece of type on the belt, which latter piece must 4 contact a guide and be pushed inwardly to the convergence point thereby, the former piece Will still get to the convergence point after the piece rst released, although it must travel a shorter path' without obstruction. If, however, there were only a diierence in spacing as deposits on the belt of say one inch, this would not be true, and the two pieces of type would either block each other or take a reversed relation in the final line. However, a high speed belt will make it unnecessary to make provision for the difficulty because even a rapid type release will still result in a wide spacing on the belt of successive type.

Where the type take-off from such a belt is slow, the speed of the belt must be slow, and hence the spacing of letters relatively less in the space of time between two blows on a typewriter key. The essential of my present improvement, therefore, lies in the fact that I have evolved a `very rapid and untimed type discharge device, which will deliver type as rapidly as it is deposited from a high speed collecting belt and pass it to a receptor of some kind. My present device is a Wheel, the periphery of which is grooved to form a channel of quite particular conformation which with a given kind of type, will frictionally grip and transfer type very rapidly, in just the correct position to move into a receptor, such as a grooved plate, holder or the like. The invention includes means for picking the type out of the wheel channel, also built to accommodate the particular type. I have found that type will fall naturally into the correct position in the wheel by gravity from a guiding element located over a belt.

Certain aspects of previous devices developed by me are employed in my present structure, said devices being shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 136,244 iled April 12, 1937- In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a machine according to my invention operating on type-high type. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a piece of taper head short type.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the use of taper head short type.

Fig. '7 is a detail showing the shape of take-off wheel channel for the heavier short type, without taper head.

Fig. '7a is a detail showing the take-off wheel channel for the short, taper head type.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the pick-od member.

In the machine as illustrated, there is a frame I which supports an endless belt 2, same being driven by rotary drums at a desired speed, which will preferably be high, bearing such relation to the period between normal type deposit on the belt as to space the type a substantial distance apart along the length of the belt. My mechanism will operate satisfactorily at any speed, however, and while the high speed belt is made possible by my invention, it should not be limited to use therewith.

The type will be mounted in magazines having suitable type holders thereon as indicated at 3 and 4. A mechanism, not shown, will cooperate with a typewriter to eject type from the bottom of each type holder in the magazines coincident with depression of the desired typewriter key.

Guides 5, 5 are mounted at one end at 6, E to the frame, and converge to a straight line at 1, 1 there being a spacing at this point of little more than a single piece of type. The ends of the guides are supported at this point on plates 8, 3 mounted on a frame bracket 9, which also supports the delivery chute Iil.

In Fig. 2 the belt is seen traversing the driven drum II, at the delivery end of the mechanism, with the delivery chute lying against the belt and tilted at an angle to act by gravity. In both Figs. 1 and 2, type high type A, is seen on the belt, being brought into line by the guides, and thence feeding over the curve at the point where the belt passes down over the drive roller and into the chute. The chute Ill is a box like channel, of about the width of a piece of the type. It is made of two pieces of angle bar I3, with a base plate I4, the whole screwed to the bracket arm 9.

Mounted on a shaft I5, which is driven by suitable transmission from the main drive for the belt, is the take-off wheel I6. The shaft may be journaled in bearings marked generally at 9a. The speed of the wheel will be such that it will clear away type from the bottom of the chute as rapidly as it comes down the chute. However, only a small degree of movement will effect such clearance, so that the peripheral speed of the wheel need not be nearly as great as that desirable for the belt.

Were the belt not a high speed belt, it would be necessary to compensate for the time it takes a piece of type to move down the middle of the belt, and the time it takes for a piece to move down from the side along the guides, as has already been noted. The mechanism of my invention will be of great value in slow belt machines however, because its timed nature avoids the necessity of any type spacing mechanism.

Referring to the take off wheel, it is formed with a channel therein, which is shaped particularly to gain a frictional grip on a piece of type dropped radially into it, and hence must be varied for different type. For type high type, such as the type A, the channel is generally tapering at the upper portion to facilitate entry of the type into the channel when falling down the chute thereinto. One wall as at I8 tapers slightly downwardly to near the base of the channel where there is formed an abrupt shelf I9 at a much greater angle. The other wall tapers slightly at 20 to a middle point, where it turns outwardly at 2l, to form a clearance for the piece of type.

The result of this structure is that a piece of type falls into the channel until it hits the shelf which tilts it, thus forcing one side against the area between the portions 2B and 2l, and also brings it upper end against the wall portion I8. This engagement is a three point engagement, and gives a good frictional grasp to a piece of type high type of rectangular conformation.

The chute is directed at about an angle of 45 degrees preferably, to the vertical diameter of the wheel. The effect of the grip on the type is to carry it around with the wheel in an upright position. Since the type is delivered foot first to the belt, and will fall foot rst through the chute, it will be located generally radially of the wheel in the channel thereof with its type face upwardly.

At the other side of the wheel, entering it at about a quadrant away from the point of delivery of the type thereto, is a pick-off device. This, as shown, is preferably formed of a slotted tube 22, having inturned edges, which will engage grooves 23 formed in the side of the type A. The walls of the tube are extended as two narrow tines 23a of a fork, which tines are set to enter the Wheel channel, in a position to enter the grooves in the type as the type are brought around by the Wheel, an action which the small cross sections of the tines will permit.

The result it to pick out the type, while they are still frictionally grasped. The type will at once come away from the frictional position and will slide down the pick-off tube. As illustrated to pick off tube leads to a type receiving chase 24 or other holder, having channels of the proper depth to receive the type, and set at an angle preferably so that the type will move down therein by gravity. It will be preferable that this type receiver also have edges to engage the groovesI in the type.

The function of the take-olf wheel is that it is untimed as distinguished fro-m. toothed members which will take type one at a time with a denite spacing. Thus it is not necessary to compensate for irregular discharge of the type on the belt by providing a retarding device to space the type properly for the take-01T. This very greatly simplies existing mechanism for type setting. The wheel action is confined preferably tothe uppermost quadrant thereof, so as to avoid pieces of type falling through the channel without being frictionally grasped, or becoming loose before they are picked off.

Where small height type is used that does not have a tapered head, as indicated by the type B, the channel in the wheel will be moclied. As shown in Fig. 7, I will preferably employ for this kind of type, a channel which has one straight wall 25, and one tapered wall 26. This will result again in a three point engagement of the type arranged in a generally radial position in the wheel channel.

Where the very small type C is used, I preferably employ that having a tapered head 2'I, the taper of which is. in a plane which will include the lower edge of the foot of the type. With such a type a wheel channel, as indicated in Fig. 7a, will simply be tapered at about the angle of taper of the type heads.

It may be necessary to assist gravity in delivery of the type from the wheel to the chase, or to cause it positively to start sliding down the chute that delivers to the wheel. However, this can be done in an untimed manner as by rubber wheels, belts and the like, and need not be illustrated. The assistance of gravity, however, will preferably be employed, in any event.

It will be noted that I have shown two type magazines one in the front of the other, instead of being located edgewise. This is possible with a high speed belt, and permits of narrowing of the belt. Since there is no requirement of length for the belt except to give a gradual convergence to the guides, the belt length over existing machines can be cut down considerably. Thus my machine using the high speed belt, and the untimed take off, can be produced in much smaller sizes than existing machines of the same general type, which employ timed take-offs, and to compensate for difference in travel of type, use type magazines set at an angle to each other.

I am not aware of any take-off device suitable for type high type which has ever gone into use, and my machine provides, so far as I know, the first practical machine for setting type high foundry type.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and a delivery means from the belt to said wheel arranged at a depending angle and arranged to guide the type into said channel.

2i In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon i'n the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and means for delivering the type from the line assembled on the belt so as to drop into the wheel at about an angle of forty-five degrees to the vertical.

3. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a mving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take oi device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide 4for an untimed feeding thereof, and a stripping member having edges engaging grooves in the type and tines projecting into the chan-nel of the wheel from said edges, said tines arranged to enter said grooves in the type.

4. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving' belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order 'of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, -said device compris'ihg a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and a stripping member having edges engaging grooves in the type and tines projecting into the channel lof the wheel from said edges, said tiires arranged to enter said grooves in the type, said tines being located to strip out the type at about an angle of forty-five degrees to the vertical diameter of the wheel.

5. In a machine for setting type, the combination means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, soV as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and means as a chute to receive the type from said belt and deliver them to the wheel.

6. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a Wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and means for delivering the type from the line assembled on the belt so as to drop into the wheel at about an angle of forty-five degrees to the vertical, said means comprising a chute to receive the type from said belt and deliver them to the wheel.

7. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take-off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a Wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and a stripping member having edges engaging grooves in the type and tines projecting into the channel of the wheel from said edges, said tines arranged to enter said grooves in the type, said stripping member being tilted to enable gravity to move the type.

8. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take olf device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and a stripping member having edges engaging grooves in the type and tines projecting into vthe channel of the wheel from said edges, said tines arranged to enter said grooves in the type, said stripping member being tilted to enable gravity to move the type, and a type receiving element to receive the type setwise, located at the terminus of the stripping member.

9. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to Which the type is delivered, said device comprising a Wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and a stripping member having edges engaging grooves in the type and tines projecting into the channel of the wheel from said edges, said tines arranged to enter said grooves in the type, said stripping member being tilted to enable gravity to move the type, and a type receiving element to receive the type setwise, located at the terminus of the stripping member, and likewise tilted to provide gravity feed.

10. In a machine ofthe character described, a type magazine, a high speed belt, means for ejecting type from said magazine onto the belt, converging guides located over the belt to bring the type into line, a discharge chute from the guides, a rotary untimed means for receiving the type from the chute and frictionally feeding the same away, and a type receiving device arranged to receive the type from the untimed means.

11. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take oi device to Which the type is delivered said device comprising a Wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, said channel, for rectangular type high type having a shelf at the bottom for engaging one base edge of the type, a wall cut away at the opposite side of the channel from said shelf, to clear the type at that point, a wall tapering to the said shelf on its side of the channel, and a wall tapering to the point where the cut away portion begins,-

type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to friotionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, said channel, for taper headed short type, having a conformation also tapering at substantially a like angle to the taper heads.

13. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take oif device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and means for delivering the type to said wheel and picking it out of the wheel substantially in the top quarter sector thereof.

14. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take oft device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, said channel, for rectangular type high type having a shelf at the bottom for engaging one base edge of the type, a wall cut away at the opposite side of the channel from said shelf, to clear the type at that point, a wall tapering to the said shelf on its side of the channel, and a wall tapering to the point where the cut away portion begins, whereby the type will take a three point contact in the groove, and means for delivering the type to said wheel and picking it out of the wheel substantially in the top quarter sector thereof.

15. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, said channel, for taper headed short type, having a conformation also tapering at substantially a like angle to the taper heads, and means for delivering the type to said wheel and picking it out of the wheel substantially in the top quarter sector thereof.

16. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, and means for delivering the type to said wheel by gravity, and picking it out of the wheel and delivering it away by gravity, all within substantially the top quarter sector of thewheel.

17. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, said channel, for rectangular type high type having a shelf at the bottom for engaging one base edge of the type, a wall cut away at the opposite side of the channel from said shelf, to clear the type at that point, a wall tapering to the said shelf on its side of the channel, and a wall tapering to the point where the cut away portion begins, whereby the type will take a three point contact in the groove, and means for delivering the type to said wheel by gravity, and picking it out of the wheel and delivering it away by gravity, all within substantially the top quarter sector of the wheel.

18. In a machine for setting type, the combination with means for depositing type upon a moving belt and assembling them into line thereon in the order of deposit of a take off device to which the type is delivered, said device comprising a wheel having a channel therein adapted to the shape of the type, to frictionally engage the same, so as to provide for an untimed feeding thereof, said channel, for taper headed short type, having a conformation also tapering at substantially a like angle to the taper heads, and means for delivering the type to said wheel by gravity, and picking it out of the wheel and delivering it away by gravity, all within substantially the top quarter sector of the Wheel.

FRANK H. POEPPELMEIER. 

